For Shedeur Sanders, the NFL draft wasn’t the end of the road – it was just the beginning.
After falling to the fifth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, the former Colorado quarterback is now drawing strength and perspective from a player who once faced similar doubts: Tom Brady.
Selected 144th overall by the Cleveland Browns, Sanders sees his slide not as a setback, but as a foundation for a story he believes will unfold in due time – one reminiscent of the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
“My story is going to be similar, you know, I was a late-round draft pick,” Sanders said. “But we’re here now so none of that stuff matters, it just mattered on the day. I’m just excited to be here and ready to work.”
The comparison to Brady – who famously fell to the 199th pick in the 2000 draft – is more than metaphor. Brady revealed that he reached out to Sanders with a message of encouragement following his draft-day disappointment.
“I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well, and I said, ‘Dude, like, whatever happens, wherever you go, like, that’s your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft” Brady said on the Impaulsive podcast.
“I was [pick] 199. So, who could speak on it better than me, like, what that really means? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.'”
Brady’s advice appears to have resonated.
Sanders, now immersed in learning Cleveland’s playbook and adjusting to the demands of the pro level, has shifted his attention entirely to what lies ahead.
“I don’t even try to think about that day, because I got practice, you know?” Sanders said.. “All that stuff was cool for that time, but now I’ve got practice, I’ve got to learn the playbooks.”
While some players might enter the league seeking validation from critics or draft evaluators, Sanders made it clear his motivation comes from within.
“My job here isn’t to prove people wrong, I’m proving myself right. And I fully still have belief,” he stated.
As Sanders begins his NFL journey in Cleveland, he’s leaning on the wisdom of someone who’s been through the fire and emerged as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Now, with the draft behind him and his future ahead, Sanders is ready to put in the work – and write his own chapter.
What are your thoughts on Sanders’ stance? … We know he’ll never lack for confidence, but do you think he’s actually capable of having a Brady-like career???
